Looking for things to do with your child? Check out these learning and educational activities for 3 year olds for at home or outdoors. Like many moms, I wanted to engage with my 3 year old at home, providing him with activities that were not only fun, but educational as well. I was that mom who collected leaves and counted the steps on stairs we took. At the same time, I also understood that educational activities can get... over the top. We don't need to stress out about "teaching," so much as inspiring our kids' curiosity and desire to learn. You see, so many of us can feel like … [Read more...]
Outdoor Activities for 18 Month Olds
Encourage your toddler's independent spirit with these outdoor activities for 18 month olds, from toys to places to go with your little one! The weather has been warming up, you've been cooped up all season—whatever the reason, you and your 18 month old are ready to head outdoors. Except you can't seem to keep him interested for too long in one activity before he's fussy for another one. As much as he loves going outside, you're also running out of ideas, bored with the same ones you've been doing. Perhaps you're a first-time mom, worried you're not doing something you should be doing … [Read more...]
Cool Science Kits for Kindergarten Kids
Looking for cool science kits for kindergarten kids? These toys are perfect for this age and encourage curiosity about how things work. With three kids, we've had our share of science toys. From experiments to magnets, each one incited plenty of "oooh's" and "aaah's." They're fantastic gifts to give, whether your own or loved ones (in fact, many of these were given to my kids for birthdays or holidays). Everything is a science experiment as they try to figure out why and how something works the way it does. And of course, they love the process, from mixing elements to building a … [Read more...]
Easy Arts and Crafts for 1 Year Olds (No Complicated Instructions!)
Looking for easy arts and crafts for 1 year olds? Check out these toddler activities—without complicated instructions or messy clean up! Even when my son was an infant, I was already saving arts and crafts ideas on Pinterest. From puffy clouds of cotton balls to heart-shaped collages of torn red paper, I had grand ideas for projects I'd teach him. Unfortunately, he had his own agenda. Sure, "he" made a puffy cloud craft and a Valentine heart for his dad. But if he had his way, I knew he would rather spend the time pulling at the cotton balls or tossing the red pieces in the air (which he … [Read more...]
25 Fun Outdoor Activities for 3 Year Olds
Looking for fun, outdoor activities for 3 year olds? Check out these fun ideas for your next outing with your toddler or preschooler! For someone who has yet to go camping for fear of the bathroom "amenities," I still love the outdoors. Even living in an apartment didn't stop me from finding outdoor activities in our city, from hiking to the beach and even our local park. Now that we've moved and are surrounded by hiking trails (not to mention a backyard), being outdoors has become easier. I want my kids to feel the same way about the outdoors. Even when they were toddlers and … [Read more...]
Art Supplies for 1 Year Olds They’ll Actually Use
Gather art supplies for your 1 year old to nurture creativity! Here are the best non toxic arts and crafts supplies and toys for toddlers. Comic books, handmade puppets, decorations for the home. These are some of the creations my kids have made out of miscellaneous art supplies we have lying around the house. Art has been a part of their everyday agenda, even when they were toddlers who could barely hold a pencil. Their art experience was further cemented when they went to a Montessori preschool. Every week, they'd come home with a project that we'd hang and display on the wall. I'd … [Read more...]
Fun Literacy Activities to Help Your Child Learn
Encouraging early learning is easy with fun literacy activities! Learn why simple activities like talking, reading and singing will help your child learn. This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of First 5 California. The opinions and text are all mine. From Day One, I wanted to engage my kids toward healthy brain development. I knew I couldn't control everything, but I was determined to do what I can to raise lifelong learners. So I read child development books and scoured the internet for baby activities. I even read aloud to my pregnant belly. Turns out that … [Read more...]